The University of Guyana has requested $14.2B from the Government to finance its operations both at the Turkeyen and Tain Campuses as the Government has now abolished all tuition and other fees at the country’s national university.

The request represents almost three times the amount that the institution was allocated last year.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand today said a number of factors will be taken into consideration as the request by the University is considered. She told reporters that there is the concern about whether the University is offering value for money.

“We have to look at the efficiency of the University too. It is not just what you get but it is how you spend what you get and whether we are getting full value for money. We have people in this room, who have complained that they had not been able to go to a single in person class, that late in the term, classes had not even begun. So, we do also have to look at some of those,” Minister Manickchand told reporters.

Manickchand reminded that the Government has been funding the education sector heavily in its national budgets since taking office. Last year alone, the University of Guyana was allocated over $5 Billion. The same amount was allocated to the Government’s Online Learning initiative, which allows qualified students to attend virtual classes at a number of overseas universities.

Manickchand said she has been in discussion with the leadership of the University of Guyana and has reminded the leadership of the expectations.

UG’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Paloma Mohammed has repeatedly expressed the need for greater support to advance the work of the University of Guyana. 

Professor Mohamed had stated that contrary to reports, the country’s premier tertiary educational institution was not being reduced to an online academic institution.

It was explained that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University, like many other institutions locally and internationally, was forced to provide its services virtually temporarily.

Today, the university offers hybrid classes.

It was explained that although the pandemic has ended, the University continues to offer hybrid programmes, allowing students to attend classes both in person, and virtually.

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